- Croatia’s run ended in heartbreak — a stoppage-time winner from Gonçalo Ramos knocked them out in the round of 32 after they recovered from an opening loss to England with wins over Panama and Ghana.
- It could be a final World Cup for veterans Luka Modrić (40, 200 caps, AC Milan) and Ivan Perišić (37, PSV), both still delivering decisive performances.
- The squad blends youth and experience — rising star defender Joško Gvardiol (24, Manchester City) and goalkeeper Dominik Livaković (31, Fenerbahçe) kept Croatia competitive.
The news, distilled into what matters.
Get the full experience in the app — topics, comments, and audio summaries.